Internationalization in Storybook

1. Introduction

Internationalization (i18n) in Storybook allows developers to create components that can adapt to different languages and cultural contexts. By implementing i18n, you ensure that your Storybook components are usable for a global audience.

2. Key Concepts

• **Internationalization (i18n)**: The process of designing a software application so that it can be adapted to various languages and regions without engineering changes.
• **Localization (l10n)**: The process of adapting internationalized software for a specific region or language by adding locale-specific components.
• **Locale**: A set of parameters that defines the user's language, country, and any special variant preferences.

3. Setup

To set up internationalization in Storybook, follow these steps:

1. Install the required i18n packages, such as i18next and react-i18next.
2. Configure your i18n instance in your project.
3. Wrap your Storybook's main component in the i18n provider.
4. Create translation files for each language you want to support.
5. Use translation keys in your components.

npm install i18next react-i18next

import i18n from 'i18next';
            i18n.init({
              resources: {
                en: {
                  translation: {
                    "welcome": "Welcome to Storybook!"
                  }
                },
                fr: {
                  translation: {
                    "welcome": "Bienvenue dans Storybook!"
                  }
                }
              },
              lng: "en",
              fallbackLng: "en",
            });

4. Best Practices

• Use translation keys instead of hard-coded strings in your components.
• Organize translation files by feature or component for better maintainability.
• Test your components in different languages to ensure proper layout and functionality.
• Keep your translations up-to-date with regular reviews.

5. FAQ